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Esther Hallberg Best – Matron of Hallberg
Ranch
Esther Best died Feb. 2, 2009 at home on the Hallberg Ranch
after a brief illness. She was 88. Haven E. Best, her husband of 62
years, daughter Patricia, and son William were by her side.
She met her husband at Analy High School, and they both attended
Santa Rosa Junior College. Best graduated from the University of
California at Berkeley and they married on July 14, 1946 in
Sebastopol.
She was a 60-year member of the Graton Community Club and served
many times as the Chairman of the club’s Board of Directors and
provided the club indispensible guidance and fellowship. She was
also a member of Eastern Star, the women’s auxiliary to the Masons.
She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Haven E. Best; by
daughter Patricia, son-in-law James Costello, and their sons Chris
and Casey Costello and Casey’s wife Jennifer; by son William,
daughter-in-law Karleen and their daughter Kimberly Best; and by
her sister, Louise Hallberg.
A celebration of her life will be held at the Graton Community
Club, 8996 Graton Road, Graton, California on Saturday, Feb. 21,
beginning at 1 p.m. All are invited to bring mementos, pictures, or
writings to be included in a memory book. Donations (in lieu of
flowers, please) in Best’s memory can be made to the Graton
Community Club Scholarship Fund (mailing address P.O. Box 115,
Graton, CA 95444) or the American Cancer Society, 1451 Guerneville
Rd., Suite 220 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 (please specify Breast Cancer
Research).
Herbert Barr Beckman – Born in Sebastopol in
1916
Herbert Beckman, 92, of Oak View, Calif., died on Dec. 24, 2008,
surrounded by his loving family and friends.
Beckman was born on Jan. 8, 1916, in Sebastopol to Albert and
Myrtle Beckman.
Beckman served as a staff sergeant with the 548th Army Field
Artillery during World War II in Europe as a platoon leader. He was
a skilled cabinet maker, a lifelong gardener, and he loved sports,
especially baseball, which he played into his senior years.
Beckman is survived by his wife of 66 years, Betty Jane, of Oak
View, CA; daughter, Bonnie L. Beckman; and son William F. Beckman
(Catherine), both of Ventura; daughter-in-law, Kristi Beckman,
grandchildren Trudie Harvey (Anthony Wiggins), Michelle Van der
Hoek (Hans), William A. Beckman (Jennifer), Michael Beckman,
Brandon Beckman (Amy), Tami Graf and Carrie Graf; 14
great-grandchildren; and nieces, Susan Main and Sharon Beckman.
He was preceded in death by his son Ronald Lee Beckman; his
brothers, Albert and Donald Beckman; and sister, Berla Main.
Rose Josephine Goulart – Known for chicken
impression
Rose Goulart died at home in Sebastopol on Feb. 5, 2009. She was
born March 9, 1921 in Ignacio (Novato), CA to the late John and
Mary Mattos, one of six children.
She married the late George Goulart on August 16, 1947 in
Tomales. In 1961, she was hired by Wilson School in Petaluma and
worked there as a teacher’s aide and custodian until her retirement
in 1994. Her interests included traveling to the Caribbean,
Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Canada and many places in the U.S. She
attended Sebastopol Christian Church since 1986. She was well known
at the fair for her lifelike chicken impressions. She loved telling
stories of her many experiences.
Goulart was preceded in death by brothers, John, Tony and Frank.
She is survived by her sisters, Mary Serpa of San Francisco and
Angelina Vierra of McMinnville, OR.; daughter Regina Goulart of
Sebastopol and son George Goulart, Jr. of Petaluma; grandchildren
Rachael and Brandon Gilligan and Tina and Crystal Goulart.
The family prefers memorials be made to Sutter-VNA Hospice, 1110
North Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95401.
Ranch Aldrich Lee – Bodega Bay fisherman since
1970
Ranch Lee died Dec. 19, 2008 in Carmichael, CA at the age of 80.
He was born Jan. 13, 1928 in Ogden, Utah to Clinton Hiram Lee and
Rhonda Alice Aldrich Lee.
He enlisted in the Navy just before the end of World War II and
later attended and graduated from UC Davis where he earned a degree
in Animal Husbandry. He worked as a dairy farmer as well as a car
salesman in Elk Grove. In 1970 he relocated to Bodega Bay and began
a long career as a commercial fisherman.
A public service is planned for noon on Saturday, Feb. 21 at the
Fisherman’s Memorial on Bodega Head. His ashes will be scattered at
sea off Bodega Head where he will join his parents.
Gertrude E. (Tutu) DeHetre – Enjoyed Bridge and
gardening
Gertrude E. (Tutu) DeHetre. Born April 23, 1916 in Ames, Iowa,
passed away February 12, 2009 in Healdsburg, California. Tutu was
predeceased by John, her husband of 60 years, and three of her
children, David, Janet (Poole), and Katherine. She is survived by
her daughter Molly (Meeker); 11 grandchildren, Janie Bottino, John
Poole, Meredith Helton, David DeHetre, Molly Holen, Sally DeHetre,
Ben Covette, Jesse Levin, Melissa Harnett, Kelly Meeker and Lucas
Meeker; and 12 great-grandchildren. Tutu was the cornerstone of our
family. She enjoyed Bridge, gardening, golf, and cooking and made a
loving, beautiful home for all of us. In lieu of flowers, the
family suggests donations to the Redwood Food Bank.